Signals from Kissinger's visit to China

TRI VAN (Synthesis)

Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger met with Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu in Beijing on July 18, sending some positive signals that could improve relations between the two countries' militaries.

Former US Secretary of State Kissinger (left) met with Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu on July 18 in Beijing. Photo: Weibo

The Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post quoted a statement from China’s Ministry of National Defense as saying that Li said during the meeting that “friendly communication” between the US and China had been damaged because “certain figures in the US” were unwilling to accept concessions from either side. The Chinese defense chief warned that relations between the two countries were “at a low point since the establishment of diplomatic relations,” calling on the US to make “correct strategic judgments,” and hoped that Beijing and Washington could still work together to promote “healthy and stable development” of relations between the two countries and their militaries.

In response, Mr. Kissinger affirmed that he is a friend of China. “The United States and China should eliminate misunderstandings, coexist peacefully and avoid confrontation. History and reality have repeatedly proven that neither the United States nor China can regard each other as enemies. If the two countries go to war, it will be a meaningless war for the people of both countries,” Mr. Kissinger commented, thereby suggesting that the US and Chinese militaries improve communication, “make every effort to bring positive results for the development of bilateral relations and maintain peace and stability in the world .”

The former US secretary of state's surprise visit to China comes as the Biden administration has made efforts in recent months to stabilize relations between the world's two largest economies . In the past month alone, several senior US officials have visited China. John Kerry, the US President's special envoy for climate change, is currently in Beijing to discuss bilateral cooperation to respond to climate change. This is Mr. Kerry's third visit to China in his capacity as special envoy for climate change, and comes after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen visited Beijing.

Kissinger, now 100, played a key role in rekindling US-China relations as national security adviser under the administration of former President Richard Nixon. He made a secret visit to Beijing in July 1971, paving the way for Nixon to visit China a year later, leading to the normalization of bilateral relations. More than half a century later, Beijing still regards Kissinger as a “friend of China.” He has also repeatedly opposed Washington’s aggressive stance toward Beijing, expressing concern about the prospect of “disaster” if the US-China confrontation gets out of control and becomes a conflict. In May, the Global Times praised Kissinger for “retaining a sharp mind despite entering his 100th year.”

However, the US side said that Mr. Kissinger's visit to China was only in his personal capacity. According to US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller, Mr. Kissinger went to China at his own discretion and did not act on behalf of the US Government. Mr. Miller said that former Secretary of State Kissinger could report back to US officials about the trip.

Asked whether a meeting between Kissinger and Li would be problematic given that the Chinese defense chief is under sanctions from Washington, Miller did not suggest that the meeting would violate sanctions. However, the State Department believes a meeting between the defense ministers of the United States and China would be more appropriate.

Before his meeting with Kissinger, Li had repeatedly refused to meet with his US counterpart Lloyd Austin since the balloon incident in February 2023. The Chinese defence minister also declined a Pentagon invitation to hold a meeting between the two ministers on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue security conference in Singapore in June. Li has been under US sanctions since 2018 over China's purchase of Russian weapons. He assumed the role of Chinese defence minister earlier this year.

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